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Jehan Ashmore

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

This season’s first cruise ship to Dublin Port, MS Spitsbergen called with passengers disembarking in the ‘Docklands’ quarter, close to the O2 Arena. So far the small polar ship has visited Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man before in a couple of months heading for Svalbard, where the largest island in the archipelago is the ship’s namesake off northern Norway and within the Arctic Circle. Above the observation deck at the prow, when in waters off Bessaker, also in Norway, home to Hurtigruten’s famous Coastal Express. As for today, Spitsbergen arrived from Douglas, Isle of Man from where also this morning, the IOM Steam Packets fast-ferry Manannan, at 35 knots passed the Baily Lighthouse and bound for the Irish capital marking its first seasonal sailing.

Expedition Cruise Ship Sails into Dublin Port Setting the Season of Visitors to the Capital

4th April 2024 Cruise Liners
The first cruise ship to Dublin Port of this season saw the Norwegian operator of M/S Spitsbergen, Hurtigruten Expeditions, whose small yet smart red, black, and white liveried ship, sailed upriver to a berth today, writes Jehan Ashmore. The call…
Ambition of Ambassador Cruise Line was the first vessel to visit Cobh today, opening the start of a season that is also to welcome a further 100 plus calls. The 1,400 passenger guest cruise ship previously called to Belfast and beforehand became the first ever cruise ship to use the new berth at the Scottish port of Stornoway (above) on the Isle of Harris & Lewis, off the west coast. Up to now the port could only handle anchorage available for ships the size of Ambition and fleet-mate flagship Ambience which too has called to Cobh in the past two years.

Ambition Achieved as Ambassador Cruise Line's Second Ship 'Maiden Call' to Port of Cork Also Starts Season

4th April 2024 Cruise Liners
Ambition, one of two cruise ships of UK operator Ambassador Cruise Line, overnight sailed from Belfast Harbour to arrive this morning at the Port of Cork, where it made a maiden visit to Cobh, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat tracked yesterday…
Mainport Edge is the newest acquisition of Cork-based Irish Mainport Holdings (IMH), which is undergoing an upgrade in Turkey. Works include improvements to the survey support ship to enhance and meet the roles required when placed on the international charter market for the global geo-data and offshore energy industry sectors.

Mainport Edge in Turkey for Upgrade As New Survey Support Ship for Charter Market to Offshore Energy Sector

4th April 2024 Shipyards
Mainport Edge, the name of the Cork-based Irish Mainport Holdings (IMH) newly acquired survey support ship from a shipyard in China last year and since relocated to Europe, is where further upgrade works continue, writes Jehan Ashmore. As Afloat previously…
The boss of CalMac Robbie Drummond is standing down 'with immediate effect' after a leadership review of the Scottish government owned ferry operator with its extensive route network to west coast islands.

Boss of CalMac Steps Down 'With Immediate Effect' after Scottish Ferry Operator's Leadership Review

3rd April 2024 Ferry
Caledonian MacBrayne's (CalMac) chief executive is stepping down as the Scottish state-owned ferry operator faces ongoing challenges with its aging fleet. The ferry company announced on Wednesday (3 April) that Robbie Drummond is stepping down with immediate effect from the…
Marine advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of a multi-role vessel (MRV) to replace the Naval Service’s decommissioned flagship, LÉ Eithne which departed the navy’s base in Cork Harbour last month and awaits to be recycled from an EU approved facility. AFLOAT also adds above at the city’s north quays, the bow of Arklow Fame, previously reported in 2016 as the last vessel to be dry-docked (asides static museum ship Jeanie Johnston) then the state’s largest such facility in Dublin Port, before ‘finally’ forced to close in 2017, in order to facilitate major infrastructure works, since completed. Currently, the only ‘ship’ dry-dock in the Republic is the Rushbrooke based Cork Dockyard (Doyle Shipping Group) which is used by the Navy.

Marine Advisers to Help Select Replacement for Naval Service Former Flagship LÉ Eithne

3rd April 2024 Navy
Advisers from the marine sector have been appointed to help procure a multi-role vessel (MRV) to replace the former flagship of the Naval Service, the LÉ Eithne which was decommissioned in 2022. According to the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, who is…
Pictured at Cork City quays is Captain Damien O’Sullivan, marine engineer Brendan Courtney and Dave Ronayne with the background of the two 17m suction sail-towers stern-mounted on the cargo ship Eems Traveller. Read below to find out more, as AFLOAT’s research further led to the Airbus component carrying vessel, Ville de Bordeaux which this week, Monday, 1 April, completed its first Europe-USA round voyage (based on the automated sail-assisted technology) to save on fuel and importantly reduce (C02) emissions.

Suction Sail Assisted Cargo Ship Calls to Port of Cork Sees Same Technology Benefit Airbus On Board Ro-Ro Across the Atlantic

3rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
Dock operatives of Ronayne Shipping, part of Irish Mainport Holdings, were discharging fertilizer in the Port of Cork recently from a short-sea cargo ship that had distinctive towers mounted at the stern, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,850-dwt vessel, Eems Traveller,…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is excited to join forces with 44 European transport organizations in advocating for robust funding for Europe's transport sector. ESPO’s new investment study reveals that Europe’s ports alone require over 80 billion EUR in investment over the next decade. These ports are crucial not only for maritime supply chains but also for energy security, green transition, cohesion, agriculture, industry, and military capabilities.

EU Transport Sector Calls for Robust Funding Instrument to Continue Its Strategic Role for Europe

3rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
European transport organisations (totalling 44), representing the key spectrum of Europe’s transport network, operators and stakeholders, are again joining forces in a campaign to call the Council and the European Parliament for a robust transport funding instrument in the upcoming…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) congratulates the UK’s Port of Dover with the Port Environmental Review System (PERS) award. Pictured is the Port of Dover’s CEO Doug Bannister along with Lanisha Joseph, Environment Advisor Port of Dover, Anaëlle Boudry and Isabelle Ryckbost from ESPO.

ESPO Congratulates Eco-Port Member Port of Dover with Third 'Port Environmental Review System' (PERS) Certification

2nd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has congratulated the Port of Dover (UK) for being certified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS). The ferry port of Dover is a long-standing EcoPorts member, being in the Network since 2003 and…
New chair: Lance Batchelor will chair the Board of Trinity House that manages the maritime organisation’s role as a General Lighthouse Authority (GLA)

Trinity House Appoints New Chair on Lighthouse Board

2nd April 2024 Lighthouses
Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, and the Channel Islands, has appointed Lance Batchelor as the Chair of its Lighthouse Board, succeeding Sir Alan Massey. Since becoming an Elder Brother in 2022, Lance has been sitting as…
Isle of Man Steam Packet results from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, show the ferry company transported the largest number of passengers and vehicles since 2007, the 100th anniversary of the TT.

Passengers for Isle of Man Steam Packet Company - Highest Since 2017's TT Centenary Anniversary

2nd April 2024 Ferry
The ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, has confirmed that final 2023 passenger statistics show the highest number of passengers and vehicles carried since 2007, TT’s 100th anniversary. In 2023, the Company transported 623,037 passengers and 196,430…
Originally serving in Italy as the Cartour Beta, the ropax Stena Horizon, which accommodates 1,000 passengers, 200 cars, and 120 freight units, is to resume Rosslare-Cherbourg route service in April, following annual dry-docking at A&P Falmouth, Cornwall. The former Celtic Horizon on this date a decade ago completed its final ever crossing on the Ireland-France connection for Irish operator Celtic Link Ferries, which Stena then acquired. The route is currently operated by the cruise ferry Stena Vision, which entered service less than a year ago, having been transferred following a career exclusively in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea.

Stena Horizon Has Celtic Link Roots to A Decade Ago on the Rosslare-Cherbourg Route

31st March 2024 Stena Line
Stena Horizon, which recently left Stena Line’s newly opened freight-only Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) route for annual dry-docking, had completed a previous career on this date a decade ago with an Irish ferry company, writes Jehan Ashmore. Operating albeit in freight mode,…
Scottish shipyard CEO, David Tydeman (above) was sacked following the ongoing ferry fiasco with the considerably delayed twin newbuilds that were due to enter service from 2018 and operate on CalMac’s Firth of Clyde route to Arran. 'Ferguson Marine needs strong leadership to ensure its long-term future' - Chairman Andrew Millar

Ferry Fiasco Continues as Scottish Shipyard Chief Sacked Amidst New Delays

27th March 2024 Shipyards
The chief executive of the Scottish government-owned shipyard Ferguson Marine, David Tydeman, who has been at the center of continuing concern over the escalating costs of an ongoing ferry fiasco, has had his contract terminated. The development comes after Mr.…
The ferry Ben-My-Chree, which is of a ropax design, has been the back-up vessel for the Isle of Man Steam Packet since the arrival of Manxman in August of last year.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Calls for Decision on Dropping Back-Up Ferry

27th March 2024 Ferry
The chairman of the Isle of Man Steam Packet has said a "clear government statement" is needed on whether the firm can sell its current backup ferry. The Steam Packet outlined plans to sell the 26-year-old ropax Ben-My-Chree in its…
The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) will be participating in the ‘Connecting Europe Days’ event (stand 49) held in Brussels between 2-5 April

Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) at 'Connecting Europe Days' Brussels (2nd-5th April)

27th March 2024 Ports & Shipping
The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) will be at the Connecting Europe Days 2024, Europe’s mobility flagship event, held at the Square in Brussels, Belgium. Representatives from the IMDO will be at stand 49 during the two days of the…
Sleek and stylish, the lines of Pont-Aven, Brittany Ferries flagship, now in its 20th year of service operating Cork-Roscoff and on routes across the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. Above the cruise-ferry, featuring a four-deck atrium, luxury cabins with balconies and a sky-lit indoor swimming pool, is seen underway in Cork Harbour on the established Ireland-France connection dating to 1978.

Brittany Ferries Flagship ‘Pont-Aven’ On Its 20th Year Returns to Service the Cork-Roscoff Route

26th March 2024 Brittany Ferries
Pont-Aven Brittany Ferries impressive flagship at the weekend resumed its first Roscoff-Cork round-trip this season, in the 20th anniversary year since its introduction on the Ireland-France route and UK-France/Spain links, writes Jehan Ashmore. During Pont-Aven’s return leg to France on…
The Lough Foyle ferry, operated by Frazer Ferries, is to sail throughout the Easter holidays, including Easter Sunday and Monday. Above, Frazer Strangford on a crossing from Greencastle is seen approaching Magilligan Point.

Lough Foyle Ferry Service Starts With the Easter Holiday Break

25th March 2024 Ferry
The Lough Foyle ferry route operated by Frazer Ferries, resumes for the Easter Holiday this Wednesday, 27 March and continues to Sunday 7, April, writes Jehan Ashmore. Crossings for the Easter break take place for 12 days, with 20-minute daily…
One of four P60 class offshore patrol vessels, LÉ James Joyce, is part of the maintenance contract with Wärtsilä, in which the Department of Defence has refused, at present, to reveal how much it is paying the Finnish company to get the quartet operational.

Taxpayer Picks Up €13m Bill for Naval Service Outsourcing Maintenance of P60 Class Vessels

23rd March 2024 Navy
Taxpayers are paying nearly four times as much to employ an overseas company to get stricken Naval Service patrol ships operating, than they would have if the Navy's engineering experts had not quit for better pay and conditions in the…
An agreement has been reached between the IOM Steam Packet following a solution found through negotiations with the union Nautilus. Above flagship, Manxman berthed in Douglas, where the ferry company, has strong ties with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) which recently celebrated its 200th anniversary.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Reaches Agreement with Officers' Union Nautilus Over Live Aboard Terms

23rd March 2024 Ferry
An agreement has been reached says the Isle of Man Steam Packet, with the union representing its officers, in resolving the issue regarding terms which the ferry operator said they must live aboard the fleet at times. According to Manx…
Making a repositioning passage off the Leinster coast, Frazer Mariner, following annual survey at New Ross Boatyard, is currently today bound for Carlingford Lough, where the Frazer Ferries company operates one of four routes on the island of Ireland. Above the 20 car/100 passenger ferry transits Dalkey Sound, south of Dublin Bay as part of the return leg, having also covered in for the company’s Passage East ferry service in Waterford estuary. In the background, container ships Amelie Borchard and Ranger, while in the centre is Transfennica’s con-ro carrier, Timca on short-term charter to ICG/ Irish Ferries inbound to the capital from Holyhead, north Wales.

Coastal Ferry Fresh from Survey in South-East Returns Home to Scenic Carlingford Lough

22nd March 2024 Ferry
A small coastal ferry, Frazer Mariner, with a bridge amidships above the vehicle deck, is this afternoon on a repositioning passage from the south-east bound for Carlingford Lough, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 20-car, 100-passenger ferry had made an en-route call…
The ro-ro freight-only vessel MV Bore Song is to operate on Stena Line’s new Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) route for unaccompanied freight traffic. The ship to be introduced in mid-April will boost freight capacity on the route by 30% and replace the ropax Stena Horizon, which had been operating in freight mode only and temporarily, as the company searched for a longer-term solution with the introduction, AFLOAT add of the 25,586 tons ship built in 2011 by FGS, Flensburg, Germany, for Bore Shipowners of Finland. In more recent years, the ship served Transfennica, whose Timca is currently on short-term charter to competitor, Irish Ferries running also out of Dublin but to Holyhead, north Wales.

Stena Line to Boost Capacity on Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) Route with Dedicated Freight-Only Vessel

22nd March 2024 Stena Line
Stena Line has secured a freight only ro-ro vessel, Bore Song, to operate on its Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) route with the ship boosting freight capacity on the Irish Sea route by 30%. The Swedish operator of the Dublin-Liverpool dedicated freight service has…
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